A food processing apparatus
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food processing apparatuses with near-infrared light sources and sensors face mechanical damage and discoloration issues due to abrasive food ingredients, affecting the accuracy of macronutrient measurement, and current solutions that mitigate these issues often result in low signal-to-noise ratios or impracticality.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates an optical component arranged within a channel in the food processing chamber, protected by a protective element, which shields the light path from direct impact of food ingredients, ensuring accurate macronutrient measurement by maintaining a clear light path and using a mirror component with a protective layer like hard glass.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the optical component is placed in the food processing chamber to enable NIR spectroscopy measurement, then the macronutrient evaluation functionality is achieved, but the optical component is susceptible to mechanical damage and discoloration from abrasive food ingredients
Solution Approach 1:
The optical component is segmented into two functional parts: a protective element exposed to the food environment and an optical functional element housed in a protected position. The protective element absorbs mechanical damage while the optical component performs its measurement function, resolving the contradiction between functionality and durability.
Solution Approach 2:
A protective element acts as an intermediary between the abrasive food ingredients and the optical component. This mediator absorbs the harmful mechanical impacts and prevents direct contact with the optical component, maintaining both the functionality and reliability of the system.
2Reliability
If the optical component is positioned away from the food flow to avoid damage, then the mechanical damage is reduced, but the signal-to-noise ratio decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into a protective element that interfaces with the food flow and an optical component positioned in a protected location. This segmentation allows the optical component to be positioned optimally for signal reception while the protective element handles the mechanical interface, resolving the contradiction between protection and measurement quality.
3Measurement precision
If calibration is performed to compensate for damage or discoloration, then the measurement accuracy is maintained, but additional operational steps and potential errors are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The protective element is pre-installed on the optical component before operation begins. This preliminary protective action prevents damage and discoloration from occurring in the first place, eliminating the need for subsequent calibration operations and maintaining measurement accuracy without additional user steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective element provides beforehand cushioning against mechanical damage and discoloration. By preventing these degrading factors before they occur, the system maintains measurement accuracy without requiring compensatory calibration steps, thus resolving the contradiction between precision and ease of operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration reduces mechanical damage and discoloration, maintaining a high signal-to-noise ratio and ensuring accurate macronutrient analysis without the need for extensive calibration, thereby enhancing the reliability of macronutrient measurement in food processing devices.
Implementation Method 1
an optical component (130) configured to reflect emitted near-infrared light from the near-infrared light source towards the sensor
Implementation Method 2
Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is one of the known techniques for evaluation of macronutrients in food stuff. When a food sample is irradiated, light is absorbed selectively according to the specific vibration frequencies of the molecules present and gives rise to a spectrum.
Implementation Method 3
the optical component is arranged at the food processing unit or a channel formed in the food processing chamber... using a mirror component with a protective layer like hard glass
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
There is provided a food processing apparatus (100) for use with a near- infrared light source and a sensor. The apparatus comprises a food processing chamber (110) configured to receive a food stuff, a food processing unit (120) configured to process the food stuff in the food processing chamber, and an optical component (130) configured to reflect emitted near-infrared light from the near-infrared light source towards the sensor, wherein the optical component is arranged at the food processing unit or a channel formed in the food processing chamber.